Halsey's Speech At The Women’s March Gave Voice To A Story That Would Otherwise Go Unheard

"Listen and then yell at the top of your lungs."

Among the politicians, actors, and activists joining the thousands in demonstrations around the world this weekend, at the Women's March NYC, musician Halsey brought a personal and poignant message to the event. The singer spoke in the rally before the march that also featured New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray, and actresses and activists Rosie Perez and Whoopi Goldberg. The speech has touched a chord with many and has been reposted by thousands of users on Twitter.

"I don't really know how to do a speech unless it rhymes," Halsey said the audience gathered before beginning a poem she wrote for the event entitled "A Story Like Mine."

Halsey began by telling a story about sitting with her friend, who had been raped, in the waiting room of a Planned Parenthood before chronicling her own experiences with sexual assault. She discussed openly how a childhood friend took advantage of her and later described a relationship that turns abusive.

"We've been fighting a lot, almost ten times a week / And he wants to have sex, but I just want to sleep," she said. "But he says I can't say "no" to him / This much I owe to him."

"Listen / Listen / Listen and then yell at the top of your lungs / Be a voice for all those who have prisoner tongues / For the people who had to grow up way too young / There is work to be done / There are songs to be sung / Lord knows, there's a war to be won."